T Minus 3 Days Until Departure

In just three days we will all be en route to our summer adventure in Nicaragua. I am so excited to be participating in this life-changing experience with all of you and hope that you are eager to dive into a new country, culture, language, and way of life.

The two pictures above give you a tiny glimpse into my world at home. The picture on the left shows me surrounded by my advisory (some of whom will be joining us in Nicaragua) at Lionel Wilson College Prep. On the right the picture shows my husband and I just a week ago as we celebrated the As’ victory over the Seattle Mariners and his birthday. Each of these images represent something that is enormously important to me in my day to day life…and also something I’ll be stepping away from as we embark on our exploration in Central America.

As a college student I had many opportunities to travel throughout Europe, China, the Dominican Republic, and Morocco. Each of these trips helped shape my thinking about myself, the world, and my role as a global citizen – just like our trip to Nicaragua will do for each of you. In fact, I wouldn’t have become a teacher if I hadn’t realized the importance of education and its capacity for improving individual lives, whole communities, and even the world. Educating ourselves about communities and cultures around the world helps us to better understand the context and ripple effects of all our decisions throughout life and therefore guides us toward choosing paths that will help make a positive impact.

To take full advantage of our experience this summer, we’ll have to take a step away from the things we know so well – our family, friends, schools, hobbies. We need to step outside our comfort zones and allow ourselves to see new things and think in new ways. As Dr. Seuss would say: “You’re off to great places. Today is your day. Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way.”